Your brain made simple.

I’ve been inspired by the book A General Theory of Love and learning more about the different parts of the brain.

I’m fascinated by this topic because having reached my middle years I’ve realised that:

- It isn’t enough to know stuff
- You also need to know yourself
- We can be our own worst enemy

I work with people in transition.

They’re on a journey from one way of working to working in completely different way.

They still want to make money.

But they now need to focus on meaning, purpose, creativity and happiness.

These are higher order needs that can create some inner conflict.

I’m proposing this conflict arises from different parts of our brain arguing with each other.

Simply put the brain can be broken down into three parts:

- the cortical brain
- the limbic brain
- the reptilian brain

Each part was built upon the other, the reptilian brain being the oldest and most primitive part.

- the cortical brain needs to create
- the limbic brain needs to connect
- the reptilian brain needs to stay safe

When all these needs aren’t acknowledged and met then we either do things that don’t really benefit us or we don’t do anything at all (fight or freeze).